Device and method for outputting data of a wireless terminal to an external device

ABSTRACT

An apparatus is provided. The apparatus includes a communication unit configured to communicate with a first electronic device, and a control unit operatively coupled with the communication unit, the control unit configured to receive, from the first electronic device via the communication unit, information associated with a playback location of multimedia data, the multimedia data to be presented at a second electronic device operatively coupled with the apparatus, based at least in part on the information, and transmit at least one portion of the multimedia data, to the second electronic device.

PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.14/527,146, filed Oct. 29, 2014, which is a continuation of priorapplication Ser. No. 13/243,184, filed Sep. 23, 2011, now U.S. Pat. No.8,881,207, which is a continuation of prior application Ser. No.11/039,861, filed Jan. 24, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,578,429, and acontinuation of prior application Ser. No. 13/243,063, filed on Sep. 23,2011, now U.S. Pat. No. 8,881,206, which is also a continuation of priorapplication Ser. No. 11/039,861, filed Jan. 24, 2005, now U.S. Pat. No.8,578,429, which claimed the benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) of a Koreanpatent application filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office onFeb. 21, 2004 and assigned Serial No. 10-2004-0011683, the entiredisclosure of each of which is hereby incorporated by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a media device. More particularly, thepresent invention relates to a device and a method for outputting datastored in a wireless terminal to an external device.

2. Description of the Related Art

Recently, wireless terminals have been developed to provide a high-speeddata transmission function in addition to a voice communicationfunction. A wireless terminal capable of performing data communicationcan process data including packet data and image data.

Now, wireless terminals have a function of enabling image data to betransmitted/received. Therefore, the wireless terminals can store animage received from a base station and transmit an acquired image to thebase station. Such a wireless terminal includes a camera forphotographing an image and a display unit for displaying an imagephotographed by the camera. The camera may include a Charge CoupledDevice (CCD) or Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor (CMOS) sensorand the display unit may include a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD). Inaddition, camera devices are being miniaturized. Concomitantly, devicesfor photographing images also show a tendency to be miniaturized. Thewireless terminal can photograph an image to be displayed as a movingpicture or a still picture, and can transmit a photographed image to thebase station.

According to the increase of the request of providers and users for animage mail, such services as described above are now being provided andare expected to highly increase in the future. In addition, ifmultimedia data (such as audio data, moving picture data, still picturedata, and the like) stored in a wireless terminal can be played by ordisplayed on an external device, the users' requests may be furthersatisfied.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve theabove-mentioned problems occurring in the prior art, and an object ofthe present invention is to provide a media device capable of outputtingdata stored in a wireless terminal through an external device.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a method foroutputting data stored in a wireless terminal through an external deviceusing the media device.

To accomplish these objects, in accordance with one aspect of thepresent invention, there is provided a media device for outputting datastored in a wireless terminal to an external device throughcommunication with the wireless terminal. The media device comprises aRadio Frequency (RF) unit for communicating with the wireless terminal;a power supply unit for controlling power of the external device; acontrol unit for performing control operations for decoding datatransmitted from the wireless terminal according to a commandtransmitted from the wireless terminal and transmitting the decoded datato the external device; and an output unit for transmitting the decodeddata to the external device.

In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there isprovided a method for outputting data stored in a wireless terminal toan external device through a media device. The method comprises poweringthe media device and the external device when the wireless terminaltransmits a power-on command; searching for information relating toreproduction, which is attached to a reproduction command, andresponding to the reproduction command when the wireless terminaltransmits the reproduction command; and decoding data received from thewireless terminal and outputting the decoded data to the external devicewhen a response to the reproduction command is performed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The above and other objects, features and advantages of the presentinvention will be more apparent from the following detailed descriptiontaken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a system for transmitting data stored in awireless terminal to an external device through a media device accordingto one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating the construction of the wirelessterminal shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of the mediadevice shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4A is a view illustrating a structure of the protocol stack of thewireless terminal shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4B is a view illustrating astructure of the protocol stack of the media device shown in FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5A to 5D are flow diagrams illustrating procedures of outputtingaudio/video stored in the wireless terminal to the external devicethrough the media device according one embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIGS. 6A to 6D are flow diagrams illustrating procedures of outputtingaudio stored in the wireless terminal to the external device through themedia device according one embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure of outputting stillpicture data stored in the wireless terminal to the external devicethrough the media device according one embodiment of the presentinvention; and

FIGS. 8A to 8C are flow diagrams illustrating procedures of outputtingstill picture and audio data stored in the wireless terminal to theexternal device through the media device according one embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, embodiments of a device and a method for outputting datastored in a wireless terminal to an external device according to thepresent invention will be described with reference to the accompanyingdrawings. In the following description of the present invention, adetailed description of known functions and configurations incorporatedherein will be omitted for conciseness.

FIG. 1 is a view illustrating a system for transmitting data stored in awireless terminal to an external device through a media device accordingto one embodiment of the present invention.

A wireless terminal 100 stores multimedia data. The wireless terminal100 communicates with a media device 200 to output the multimedia datato an external device 300. Also, the wireless terminal 100 may transmitcommand signals to control the multimedia data output through theexternal device 300 while a user listens to or views the multimediadata. The media device 200 communicates with the wireless terminal 100and outputs multimedia data, which are transmitted from the wirelessterminal 100, to the external device 300 to be displayed.

While an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be describedon the assumption that the external device 300 is a television, theexternal device 300 can be replaced by any type of external device(which include a beam projector, and the like) capable of receiving datathrough the media device 200. Also, an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention will be described on the assumption that the wirelessterminal 100 transmits multimedia data (such as a video clip, audio, amusic file, still picture data, TV video data, and so on) through themedia device 200 to the external device 300. However, the wirelessterminal 100 can transmit not only multimedia data stored in thewireless terminal 100 but also communication data (such as phone bookdata, and so on) to the media device 200 at each predetermined interval.

The media device 200 functions as an intermediate device for receivingwirelessly coded multi-media data of the wireless terminal 100 anddecoding the received data to thereby transmit the same to the externaldevice 300 after analog conversion is performed. Although the mediadevice 200 is shown as being separate from the external device 300, themedia device 200 can comprise a module and be integrated into theexternal device 300 in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention. The media device module would allow the externaldevice 300 to perform the same functions as the media device 200. Forexample, a media device module implemented in the external device 300such as a television would allow the television to directly receive TVvideo data of the wireless terminal 100 wirelessly and decode thereceived data to thereby display the same on a reproducing module suchas a television tube or picture screen.

It should be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the externaldevice 300 is not limited to a television set. The external device 300can be a Video Cassette Recorder (VCR), satellite receiver, cable box,digital video recorder or a computer and the like, without departingfrom the scope of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a block diagramillustrating the construction of the wireless terminal shown in FIG. 1.A first Radio Frequency (RF) unit 123 performs wireless communication.The first RF unit 123 includes an RF transmitter (not shown) and an RFreceiver (not shown), in which the RF transmitter up-converts andamplifies frequencies of a signal to be transmitted, and the RF receiverlow-noise amplifies a received signal and down-converts the frequency ofthe received signal. A second RF unit 170 performs a wirelesscommunication function with the media device 200 through Bluetooth or awireless Local Area Network (LAN). The second RF unit 170 includes an RFtransmitter (not shown) for up-converting and amplifying the frequencyof a signal to be transmitted. Of course, it is possible that the firstRF unit 123 includes the function of the second RF unit 170 so that thefirst RF unit 123 may perform the wireless communication function withthe media device 200 as well as the normal wireless communicationfunction of the wireless terminal 100.

A data processing unit 120 includes a transmitter (not shown) forencoding and modulating the signal to be transmitted and a receiver (notshown) for demodulating and decoding the received signal. That is, thedata processing unit 120 may include a MODEM and a CODEC. Herein, theCODEC includes a data CODEC for processing packet data, and so on, andan audio CODEC for processing audio signals such as voices, and thelike. An audio processing unit 125 reproduces a reception audio signaloutput from the audio CODEC of the data processing unit 120, andtransfers a transmission audio signal generated from a microphone to theaudio CODEC of the data processing unit 120.

A memory 130 may include a program memory and a data memory. The programmemory may store programs for controlling general operations of thewireless terminal and programs for transmitting multimedia data storedin the wireless terminal to the media device according to an exemplaryembodiment of the present invention. The data memory temporarily storesdata generated while the programs are being executed. Also, the memory130 stores various multimedia data (such as video, audio, music files,pictures, and so on) and communication data (such as phone numbers of aphone book, received/transmitted character data, and so on).

A control unit 110 controls operations of the wireless terminal. Thecontrol unit 110 may include the data processing unit 120. Also, thecontrol unit 110 may control the transmission of data stored in thememory 130 to the media device 200 according to an exemplary embodimentof the present invention. Also, the control unit 110 stores a protocolstack for communicating with the media device 200 according to anembodiment of the present invention. FIG. 4A is a view showing astructure of the protocol stack of the wireless terminal. The controlunit 110 communicates with the media device 200 through the protocolstack. In the protocol stack of the wireless terminal, Media ControlProtocol (MCP) represents a protocol for enabling the wireless terminal100 and the media device 200 to communicate with each other according toeach media reproduction control command input by a user of the wirelessterminal 100. Also, when the wireless terminal 100 includes a TVreception function, the control unit 110 can transmit TV video data,which are received by the wireless terminal 100, to the media device 200so that the TV video data may be output through the television 300 to beseen and heard by a user.

A camera module 140 includes a camera sensor and a signal processingsection. The camera sensor photographs an image and converts a lightsignal obtained through the photographing into an electric signal. Thesignal processing section converts an analog image signal obtainedthrough the photographing of the camera sensor into digital data.Herein, it is assumed that the camera sensor is a Charge Coupled Device(CCD) sensor, and the signal processing section may be realized by aDigital Signal Processor (DSP). The camera sensor and the signalprocessing section may be integrally or separately constructed.

A video processing unit 150 performs a function to generate image datafor displaying an image signal output from the camera module 140. Thevideo processing unit 150 processes an image signal, which is outputfrom the camera module 140, in a unit of frame, and outputs the frameimage data according to the size and the property of a display unit 160.Also, the video processing unit 150 includes a video CODEC so as toperform a function to compress frame image data displayed on the displayunit 160 by using a predetermined method and a function to reproduceoriginal frame image data from compressed frame image data. Herein, thevideo CODEC may be one of a Joint Picture Experts Group (JPEG) CODEC, aMoving Picture Experts Group 4 (MPEG4) CODEC, a Wavelet CODEC, etc. Itis assumed that the video processing unit 150 has an On Screen Display(OSD) function and can output OSD data according to the size of a screendisplayed under the control of a control unit 110.

The display unit 160 displays an image signal output from the videoprocessing unit 150 and user data output from the control part 110 on ascreen. Herein, the display unit 160 may employ a Liquid Crystal Display(LCD). When the LCD is employed, the display unit 160 may include a LCDcontroller, a memory for storing image data, an LCD display element,etc. Herein, when the LCD is realized in a touch screen method, thedisplay unit 160 may operate as an input section. In addition, in anexemplary embodiment of the present invention, the display unit 160 candisplay a menu for controlling data which are transmitted from thewireless terminal to the external device in a transmission mode. Themenu includes ‘power on/off’, ‘play’, ‘fast forward’, ‘rewind’, ‘pause’,‘stop’, and so on. A key input unit 127 includes keys used to inputnumeral and letter information and function keys used to set variousfunctions. In addition, in an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention, the key input unit 127 may include menu keys for controllingdata which are transmitted from the wireless terminal to the externaldevice in a transmission mode. The menu keys includes a power on/offkey, a play key, a fast forward key, a rewind key, a pause key, a stopkey, and so on.

FIG. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a construction of the mediadevice shown in FIG. 1. An RF unit 270 performs a wireless communicationfunction with the wireless terminal 100 through Bluetooth or a wirelessLAN. The RF unit 270 includes an RF receiver (not shown) which low-noiseamplifies a received signal and down-converts the frequency of thereceived signal. A power supply unit 220 for an external device performsa function to turn on/off the power of the television 300 under thecontrol of a control unit 210 when a power on/off command is transmittedfrom the wireless terminal.

The control unit 210 includes a video CODEC and an audio CODEC. Thevideo CODEC performs a function to restore original frame image datafrom compressed frame image data transmitted from the wireless terminal100. Herein, the video CODEC may be one of a JPEG CODEC, an MPEG4 CODEC,a Wavelet CODEC, and so on. The audio CODEC performs a function torestore original frame audio data from compressed frame audio datatransmitted from the wireless terminal 100. Herein, the audio CODEC maybe one of an Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) CODEC, an Audio Modem Riser(AMR) CODEC, an MP3 CODEC, etc. The control unit 210 decodes datatransmitted from the wireless terminal 100 by means of the video CODECand the audio CODEC and outputs the decoded data to the television 300.In addition, the control unit 210 includes a protocol stack as shown inFIG. 4B and communicates with the wireless terminal 100 through theprotocol stack. In the protocol stack of the media device 200, MCPrepresents a protocol for enabling the wireless terminal 100 and themedia device 200 to communicate with each other according to eachcommand transmitted from the wireless terminal 100. Also, the controlunit 210 outputs data transmitted from the wireless terminal 100 to thetelevision 300 according to each command transmitted from the wirelessterminal 100. A first buffer 240 stores image data decoded by the videoCODEC of the control unit 210, and the image data of a digital signaltype stored in the first buffer 240 are converted into an analog signalthrough a first Digital/Analog (D/A) converter 250. A second buffer 280stores audio data decoded by the audio CODEC of the control unit 210,and the audio data of a digital signal type stored in the second buffer280 are converted into an analog signal through a second D/A converter290.

An output unit 260 for an external device performs a function to outputimage data transmitted through the first D/A converter 250 and audiodata transmitted through the second D/A converter 290, to the television300 which is an external device. A memory 230 may store programs forcontrolling a normal operation of the media device 200. In addition, thememory 230 may store multimedia data and communication data transmittedfrom the wireless terminal 100.

The components of the media device 200 shown in FIG. 3 may be includedin the external device 300. Such an external device including thecomponents of the media device can output data stored in the wirelessterminal through direct communication with the wireless terminal 100.

Hereinafter, the operation for outputting data stored in the wirelessterminal to the television (such as an external device) using thewireless terminal and the media device as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 5 to 8.

FIGS. 5A to 5D are flow diagrams illustrating procedures of receivingmultimedia data relating to audio/video from the wireless terminal andprocessing the received multimedia data in the media device, that is,procedures of reproducing the audio and video through the television inrealtime. FIG. 5A is a flow diagram illustrating a control procedure forpowering on the external device and the media device and thenreproducing audio/video data through the external device. FIG. 5B is aflow diagram illustrating a control procedure for performing a pauseoperation for audio/video data reproduced through the external device.FIG. 5C is a flow diagram illustrating a control procedure forperforming a fast forward (or a rewind) operation for audio/video datareproduced through the external device. FIG. 5D is a flow diagramillustrating a control procedure for performing a stop operation foraudio/video data reproduced through the external device and a power-offoperation for the external device and the media device.

Referring to FIG. 5A, when a user of the wireless terminal selects atransmission mode for an external device to transmit data to theexternal device 300, the control unit 110 detects it and changes thewireless terminal into the transmission mode for an external device. Inthe transmission mode for an external device, when the user selects apower-on function which is included in the key input unit 127 or is onefrom among control keys (such as power on/off, play, fast forward,rewind, pause, and stop) for the external device, the control unit 110detects it and proceeds to step 510 of transmitting a power-on commandto the media device 200. When the control unit 210 of the media device200 receives the power-on command from the wireless terminal 100, thecontrol unit 210 turns on the power source of the media device 200 andcontrols the power supply unit 220 for the external device to turn onthe power of the television 300. Thereafter, in step 511, the controlunit 210 of the media device 200 transmits a response message to thewireless terminal 100 in response to the power-on command so as tonotify the wireless terminal 100 that the media device 200 and thetelevision 300 are powered on. The wireless terminal 100 and the mediadevice 200 communicate with each other through commands which are inputby the user of the wireless terminal and are transmitted through an MCP.When the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal receives the responsemessage from the media device 200 in response to the power-on command,the control unit 110 notifies the user that the media device 200 isready to play through the display unit 160. When the user selectsaudio/video data to be transmitted and selects a play function for theselected audio/video data, the control unit 110 detects it and transmitsa play command to the media device 200 in step 512. In this case, thecontrol unit 110 transmits information (which relates to playing) to themedia device 200, together with the play command. The informationrelating to the play command includes information relating to datatransmitted from the wireless terminal 100 and is accompanied andtransmitted whenever the play function is performed.

The control unit 210 of the media device 200 receives the play command,the control unit 210 recognizes the play command and searches foraccompanied information relating to the play mode. The informationrelating to the play mode includes information about a kind of media, akind of audio CODEC, a kind of video CODEC, a media title, a total playtime period, resolution, a bit rate, and a frame number. In step 512,the information relating to the play mode, which is received in themedia device 200, may be described as follows:

M=AV, A=AAC, V=MPEG4, S=CIF, MT=Graduation Travel, D=15:30, R=256, andF=0.

Herein, “M=AV” indicates that the type of media corresponds toaudio/video data, “A=AAC” indicates that an Advanced Audio Coding (AAC)or MP4 audio CODEC is employed, and “V=MPEG4” indicates that an MPEG4video CODEC is employed. Also, “S=CIF” indicates that a ‘352×288’ CommonIntermediate Format (CIF) resolution is employed, and “MT=GraduationTravel” indicates that received audio/video data has a title of‘Graduation Travel’. Also, “D=15:30” indicates a total play time periodof fifteen hours and thirty minutes, “R=256” indicates a bit rate of 256kbps, and “F=0” indicates a frame number. The frame number correspondsto a sequence number of Real-time Transport Protocol (RTP)/Real-timeTransport Control Protocol (RTCP) for realtime data transmission. Whenthe control unit 210 of the media device finds the information relatingto the play mode, the control unit 210 performs step 513. In step 513,the control unit 210 transmits a response message, which provides anindication that the media device 200 is ready to play, to the wirelessterminal 100 in response to the play command. When the wireless terminal100 receives the response message from the media device 200 in responseto the play command, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminaldetects it and transmits the audio/video data to the media device 200through the RTC protocol in step 514. In step 514, when the media device200 receives the audio/video data from the wireless terminal 100, thecontrol unit 210 of the media device 200 detects it and decodes theaudio/video data by means of a video CODEC and an audio CODEC includedin the control unit 210. The control unit 210 stores the video data fromamong the decoded audio/video data in the first buffer 240 and thenconverts the video data stored in a type of digital signal format intoan analog signal through the first D/A converter 250. Also, the controlunit 210 stores the audio data in the second buffer 280 and thenconverts the audio data stored in the type of digital signal format intoan analog signal through the second D/A converter 290. The audio/videodata converted into analog signals are output through the output unit260 for an external device to the television 300, thereby beingreproduced.

While the audio/video data are being reproduced through the television300, the control unit 210 performs step 515, in which the control unit210 transmits information relating to a current connection state betweenthe wireless terminal 100 and the media device 200 to the wirelessterminal 100 through the RTC protocol at a predetermined period of time.Meanwhile, when the user of the wireless terminal 100, who is seeing andhearing the audio/video data reproduced through the television 300 insteps 514 and 515, selects a pause function, the control unit 110 of thewireless terminal detects it and proceeds to step 520 shown in FIG. 5B,in which the control unit 110 transmits a pause command to the mediadevice 200.

Referring to FIG. 5B, when the media device 200 receives the pausecommand from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 of themedia device 200 detects it and performs a control operation to stop theoutput of data to the external device 300 and to pause the currentimage. During such a paused state, the control unit 210 discards all ofaudio/video data received to the control unit 210. In step 521, when thewireless terminal 100 receives a response message from the media device200 in response to the pause command, the control unit 110 of thewireless terminal 100 detects it and stops transmitting the audio/videodata. In such a paused state, when the user of the wireless terminal 100selects a play function, the control unit 110 detects it and transmits aplay command to the media device 200 in step 522. When the wirelessterminal 100 receives a response message, which indicates that the mediadevice 200 is ready to play, from the media device 200 in step 523 inresponse to the play command, the control unit 110 of the wirelessterminal 100 detects it and performs step 524 in which the control unit110 transmits the audio/video data to the media device 200 through theRTC protocol. In this case, data transmitted to the media device 200 instep 524 are data of a frame number following that of the datatransmitted just before the pause command is transmitted. That is, whenthe pause command is transmitted in step 520 after data of frame number‘99’ are transmitted to the media device 200, data transmitted in step522 are data of frame number ‘100’.

Meanwhile, when the user of the wireless terminal 100, who is seeing andhearing the audio/video data reproduced through the television 300,selects a fast forward function, the control unit 110 of the wirelessterminal detects it and proceeds to step 530 shown in FIG. 5C, in whichthe control unit 110 transmits a Fast Forward (FF) command to the mediadevice 200.

Referring to FIG. 5C, when the media device 200 receives the fastforward command from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 ofthe media device 200 detects it and performs a control operation to stopthe output of data to the external device 300 and to pause the currentimage. During such a paused state, the control unit 210 discards all ofaudio/video data received to the control unit 210. In step 531, when thewireless terminal 100 receives a response message, which indicates thatthe data output to the external device stops, from the media device 200in response to the fast forward command, the control unit 110 of thewireless terminal 100 detects it and transmits a play command to themedia device 200 in step 532. In step 533, when the control unit 110 ofthe wireless terminal receives a response message, which indicates thatthe media device 200 is ready to play, from the media device 200 inresponse to the play command, the control unit 110 detects it and skipsframes at a predetermined time interval (such as 5 or 10 minutes) fromthe frame stopped according to the transmission of the fast forwardcommand. The control unit 110 skips video data frames at thepredetermined time interval (such as 5 or 10 minutes) corresponding toone frame. Then, the control unit 110 performs step 534 in which thecontrol unit 110 transmits data to the media device 200, from datahaving a frame number of the jumped location. Whenever the user selectsthe fast forward function, the control unit 110 skips data frames in aforward direction at the predetermined time interval (such as 5 or 10minutes) as described above. In contrast, when the user selects therewind function, the control unit 110 detects it, jumps frames at thepredetermined time interval (such as 5 or 10 minutes) in a reversedirection from the stopped frame, and then performs a play operation.

Meanwhile, when the user of the wireless terminal 100, who is seeing andhearing the audio/video data reproduced through the television 300,selects a stop function, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminaldetects it and proceeds to step 540 shown in FIG. 5D, in which thecontrol unit 110 transmits a stop command to the media device 200.Referring to FIG. 5D, when the media device 200 receives the stopcommand from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 of themedia device 200 detects it and performs a control operation to stop theoutput of data to the external device 300 and to stop the current image.During such a stopped state, the control unit 210 discards all ofaudio/video data received to the control unit 210. In step 541, when thewireless terminal 100 receives a response message, which indicates thatthe data output to the external device stops, from the media device 200in response to the stop command, the control unit 110 of the wirelessterminal 100 detects it and waits for an input of the user. In thisstate, when the user selects a power-off function, the control unit 110of the wireless terminal detects it and performs step 542 oftransmitting a power-off command to the media device 200. When thecontrol unit 210 of the media device 200 receives the power-off command,the control unit 210 detects it, controls the power supply unit 220 foran external device to turn off the power of the television 300 which isan external device, and also turns off the power of the media device 200itself. In this case, the control unit 210 leaves a portion of the powerrelating to the power on/off function of the media device 200 itself.When the powers of the television 300 and the media device 200 areturned off, the media device 200 transmits a response message, whichinforms that the powers of the television 300 and the media device 200are turned off, to the wireless terminal 100 in step 543 in response tothe power-off command.

FIGS. 6A to 6D are flow diagrams illustrating procedures of receivingmultimedia data relating to audio from the wireless terminal andprocessing the received multimedia data in the media device, that is,procedures of outputting audio data through the television. FIG. 6A is aflow diagram illustrating a control procedure for powering on of theexternal device and the media device and then for reproducing audio datathrough the external device. FIG. 6B is a flow diagram illustrating acontrol procedure for performing a pause operation for audio datareproduced through the external device. FIG. 6C is a flow diagramillustrating a control procedure for performing a fast forward (or arewind) operation for audio data reproduced through the external device.FIG. 6D is a flow diagram illustrating a control procedure forperforming a stop operation for audio data reproduced through theexternal device and a power-off operation for the external device andthe media device.

Hereinafter, the control procedures shown in FIGS. 6A to 6D will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Referring to FIG. 6A, when a user of the wireless terminal selects atransmission mode for an external device to transmit data to thetelevision 300, the control unit 110 detects it and changes the wirelessterminal into the transmission mode for an external device. In thetransmission mode for an external device, when the user selects apower-on function which is included in the key input unit 127 or is onefrom among control keys (such as power on/off, play, fast forward,rewind, pause, and stop) for the external device, the control unit 110detects it and proceeds to step 610 of transmitting a power-on commandto the media device 200. When the control unit 210 of the media device200 receives the power-on command from the wireless terminal 100, thecontrol unit 210 turns on the power source of the media device 200 andthen controls the power supply unit 220 for an external device to turnon the power of the television 300. Thereafter, in step 612, the controlunit 210 of the media device 200 transmits a response message, whichindicates that the media device 200 and the television 300 are poweredon, to the wireless terminal 100 in response to the power-on command.When the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal receives the responsemessage from the media device 200 in response to the power-on command,the control unit 110 notifies the user that the media device 200 isready to play through the display unit 160. When the user selects datato be transmitted and selects the play function for the selected data,the control unit 110 detects it and transmits a play command to themedia device 200 in step 613. In this case, the control unit 110transmits information relating to the play mode to the media device 200,together with the play command. In step 613, the information relating tothe play mode, which is received in the media device 200, may bedescribed as follows:

M=A, A=AAC, MT=Graduation, D=5:30, R=128, and F=0.

Herein, “M=A” indicates the type of media corresponds to audio data,“A=AAC” represents that an Advanced Audio Coding (AAC) or MP4 audioCODEC is employed, and “MT=Graduation” indicates that received audiodata has a title of ‘Graduation’. Also, “D=5:30” indicates a total playtime period of five hours and thirty minutes, “R=128” indicates a bitrate of 256 kbps, and “F=0” indicates an audio frame number. The framenumber corresponds to a sequence number of RTC protocol for realtimedata transmission. When the control unit 210 of the media device findsthe information relating to the play mode, the control unit 210 performsstep 614 in which the control unit 210 transmits a response message,which indicates that the media device 200 is ready for audio play, tothe wireless terminal 100 in response to the play command. When thewireless terminal 100 receives the response message from the mediadevice 200 in response to the play command, the control unit 110 of thewireless terminal detects it and transmits the audio data to the mediadevice 200 in realtime through the RTC protocol in step 615. In step615, when the media device 200 receives the audio data from the wirelessterminal 100, the control unit 210 of the media device 200 detects itand decodes the audio data by means of an audio CODEC included in thecontrol unit 210. The control unit 210 stores the decoded audio data inthe second buffer 280 and then converts the audio data stored in adigital signal format into an analog signal through the second D/Aconverter 290. The audio data converted into an analog signal are outputthrough the output unit 260 for an external device to the television 300which is an external device, thereby being reproduced. While the audiodata are being reproduced through the television 300, the control unit210 performs step 616, in which the control unit 210 transmitsinformation relating to a current connection state between the wirelessterminal 100 and the media device 200 to the wireless terminal 100through the RTC protocol at a predetermined period of time. Meanwhile,when the user of the wireless terminal 100, who is hearing the audiodata reproduced through the television 300 in steps 615 and 616, selectsa pause function, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal detectsit and proceeds to step 620 shown in FIG. 6B, in which the control unit110 transmits a pause command to the media device 200.

Referring to FIG. 6B, when the media device 200 receives the pausecommand from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 of themedia device 200 detects it and performs a control operation to stop theoutput of data to the television 300 and to pause the current image.During such a paused state, the control unit 210 discards all of audiodata received to the control unit 210. In step 621, when the wirelessterminal 100 receives a response message from the media device 200 inresponse to the pause command, the control unit 110 of the wirelessterminal 100 detects it and stops transmitting the audio data. In such apaused state, when the user of the wireless terminal 100 selects a playfunction, the control unit 110 detects it and transmits a play commandto the media device 200 in step 622. When the wireless terminal 100receives a response message, which indicates that the media device 200is ready to play, from the media device 200 in step 623 in response tothe play command, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal 100detects it and performs step 624 in which the control unit 110 transmitsthe audio data to the media device 200 in realtime through the RTCprotocol. In this case, data transmitted to the media device 200 in step624 are data of a frame number following that of the data transmittedjust before the pause command is transmitted. That is, in the case inwhich the pause command is transmitted after data of frame number ‘99’are transmitted to the media device 200, data of frame number ‘100’ aretransmitted when play is initiated after the pause.

Meanwhile, when the user of the wireless terminal 100, who is hearingthe audio data reproduced through the television 300, selects a fastforward function, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal detectsit and proceeds to step 630 shown in FIG. 6C, in which the control unit110 transmits a fast forward command to the media device 200. Referringto FIG. 6C, when the media device 200 receives the fast forward commandfrom the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 of the media device200 detects it and performs a control operation to stop the output ofdata to the television 300 and to pause the current image. During such apaused state, the control unit 210 discards all of audio data receivedto the control unit 210. In step 631, when the wireless terminal 100receives a response message, which indicates that the data output to theexternal device stops, from the media device 200 in response to the fastforward command, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal 100detects it and transmits a play command to the media device 200 in step632. When the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal receives aresponse message, which indicates that the media device 200 is ready toplay, from the media device 200 in step 633 in response to the playcommand, the control unit 110 detects it and skips frames at apredetermined time interval (such as 5 or 10 minutes) from a framestopped in process of reproduction. Then the control unit 110 performsstep 634 in which the control unit 110 transmits data to the mediadevice 200, from data having a frame number of the jumped location.Whenever the user selects the fast forward function, the control unit110 skips frames in a forward direction at the predetermined timeinterval (such as 5 or 10 minutes) as described above. In contrast, whenthe user selects the rewind function, the control unit 110 detects it,skips frames at the predetermined time interval (such as 5 or 10minutes) in a reverse direction from a stopped frame, and then performsa play operation.

Meanwhile, when the user of the wireless terminal 100, who is hearingthe audio data reproduced through the television 300, selects a stopfunction, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal detects it andproceeds to step 640 shown in FIG. 6D, in which the control unit 110transmits a stop command to the media device 200.

Referring to FIG. 6D, when the media device 200 receives the stopcommand from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 of themedia device 200 detects it and performs a control operation to stop theoutput of data to the television 300 and to stop the current image.During such a stopped state, the control unit 210 discards all of audiodata received to the control unit 210. In step 641, when the wirelessterminal 100 receives a response message from the media device 200 inresponse to the stop command, the control unit 110 of the wirelessterminal 100 detects it and waits for an input of the user. In thisstate, when the user selects a power-off function, the control unit 110of the wireless terminal detects it and performs step 642 oftransmitting a power-off command to the media device 200. When thecontrol unit 210 of the media device 200 receives the power-off command,the control unit 210 detects it, controls the power supply unit 220 foran external device to turn off the power of the television 300 which isan external device, and also turns off the power of the media device 200itself. In this case, the control unit 210 leaves a portion of the powerrelating to the power on/off function of the media device 200 itself.When the powers of the television 300 and the media device 200 areturned off, the media device 200 transmits a response message, whichindicates that the powers of the television 300 and the media device 200are turned off, to the wireless terminal 100 in response to thepower-off command in step 643.

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram illustrating a procedure of receivingmultimedia data relating to a picture from the wireless terminal andprocessing the received multimedia data. That is, FIG. 7 illustrates acontrol procedure of turning on the powers of the media device and theexternal device and then outputting picture data to the external device.This embodiment of the present invention will be described with respectto a case in which data of a picture are output and displayed throughthe television 300 whenever a user selects the picture. However, it willbe understood by those skilled in the art that the embodiment of thepresent invention can be applied to a method of continuously outputtingdata of a plurality of pictures to the television 300 through the mediadevice 200 to be displayed.

Hereinafter, the control procedure shown in FIG. 7 will be described indetail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Referring to FIG. 7, when a user of the wireless terminal selects atransmission mode for an external device to transmit data to theexternal device 300, the control unit 110 detects it and changes thewireless terminal into the transmission mode for an external device. Inthe transmission mode for an external device, when the user selects apower-on function which is included in the key input unit 127 or is onefrom among control keys (such as power on/off, play, fast forward,rewind, pause, and stop) for the external device, the control unit 110detects it and proceeds to step 710 of transmitting a power-on commandto the media device 200. When the control unit 210 of the media device200 receives the power-on command from the wireless terminal 100, thecontrol unit 210 turns on the power source of the media device 200 andthen controls the power supply unit 220 for an external device to turnon the power of the television 300. Thereafter, in step 711, the controlunit 210 of the media device 200 transmits a response message, whichindicates that the media device 200 and the television 300 are poweredon, to the wireless terminal 100 in response to the power-on command.When the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal receives the responsemessage from the media device 200 in response to the power-on command,the control unit 110 notifies the user that the media device 200 isready to play through the display unit 160. When the user selectspicture data to be transmitted and selects the play function for theselected picture data, the control unit 110 detects it and transmits aplay command to the media device 200 in step 712. In this case, thecontrol unit 110 transmits information relating to the play mode to themedia device 200, together with the play command. In step 712, when thetransmitted picture data are expressed as “Graduation picture.JPG” whichrepresents JPEG image data, the information relating to the play modemay be accompanied as follows:

M=P (Picture), and V=JPEG.

When the control unit 210 of the media device finds the informationrelating to the play mode, the control unit 210 performs step 713 inwhich the control unit 210 transmits a response message, which indicatesthat the media device 200 is ready for picture data reproduction, to thewireless terminal 100 in response to the play command. When the wirelessterminal 100 receives the response message, which indicates that themedia device 200 is ready to play, from the media device 200 in responseto the play command, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminaldetects it and transmits the picture data to the media device 200 instep 714. In this case, the control unit 110 transmits informationrelating to the play mode to the media device 200, together with theplay command. The information relating to the picture data includesinformation (MT=“Graduation Picture”) for providing the title of thepicture data. Whenever the control unit 110 transmits picture data tothe media device 200, the control unit 110 transmits informationrelating to the picture together with the transmitted picture data tothe media device 200. In step 714, when the media device 200 receivesthe picture data from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 ofthe media device 200 detects it and decodes the picture data by means ofa video CODEC included in the control unit 210. The control unit 210stores the decoded picture data in the first buffer 240 and thenconverts the picture data stored in a digital signal format into ananalog signal through the first D/A converter 250. The picture dataconverted into an analog signal are output through the output unit 260for an external device to the television 300, thereby being reproduced.During the output of the picture through the television 300, when theuser selects a second picture and selects the play function, steps 712to 714 are repeated, thereby displaying the second picture on the screenof the television 300.

FIGS. 8A to 8C are flow diagrams illustrating procedures of receivingmultimedia data relating to audio/picture from the wireless terminal andprocessing the received multimedia data in the media device, that is,procedures of reproducing the audio and picture through the externaldevice. FIG. 8A is a flow diagram illustrating a control procedure forpowering on the external device and the media device and then forreproducing audio/picture data through the external device. FIG. 8B is aflow diagram illustrating a control procedure for performing a pauseoperation for audio/picture data reproduced through the external device.FIG. 8C is a flow diagram illustrating a control procedure forperforming a stop operation for audio/picture data reproduced throughthe external device and a power-off operation for the external deviceand the media device. This embodiment of the present invention will bedescribed with respect to procedures of displaying data of a pictureselected by a user through the external device 300 while audio data arebeing reproduced through the external device 300. However, it should beunderstood by those skilled in the art that the embodiment of thepresent invention can be applied to a sliding function of continuouslyoutputting a plurality of pictures selected by a user through theexternal device 300 while audio data is being reproduced through theexternal device 300.

Hereinafter, the control procedures shown in FIGS. 8A to 8C will bedescribed in detail with reference to FIGS. 1 to 4.

Referring to FIG. 8A, when a user of the wireless terminal selects atransmission mode for an external device to transmit data to theexternal device 300, the control unit 110 detects it and changes thewireless terminal into the transmission mode for an external device. Inthe transmission mode for an external device, when the user selects apower-on function which is included in the key input unit 127 or is onefrom among control keys (such as power on/off, play, fast forward,rewind, pause, and stop) for the external device, the control unit 110detects it and proceeds to step 810 of transmitting a power-on commandto the media device 200. When the control unit 210 of the media device200 receives the power-on command from the wireless terminal 100, thecontrol unit 210 turns on the power source of the media device 200 andcontrols the power supply unit 220 for the external device to turn onthe power of the television 300. Thereafter, in step 811, the controlunit 210 of the media device 200 transmits a response message, whichindicates that the media device 200 and the external device 300 arepowered on, to the wireless terminal 100 in response to the power-oncommand. When the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal receives theresponse message from the media device 200 in response to the power-oncommand, the control unit 110 notifies the user that the media device200 is ready to play through the display unit 160. When the user selectsaudio and picture data to be transmitted and then selects the playfunction for the selected audio and picture data, the control unit 110detects it and transmits a play command to the media device 200 in step812. In this case, the control unit 110 transmits information relatingto the play to the media device 200, together with the play command.When the transmitted audio data have a play time period of five minutesand thirty seconds, a bit rate of 128 kbps and an AAC audio clip of‘Graduation.acc’, the information relating to the play mode, which istransmitted to the media device 200, may be described as follows:

M=AP, A=AAC, MT=Graduation, D=5:30, R=128, and F=0.

When the control unit 210 of the media device finds the informationrelating to the play mode, the control unit 210 performs step 813, inwhich the control unit 210 transmits a response message to the wirelessterminal 100 in response to the play command. When the wireless terminal100 receives the response message, which indicates that the media device200 is ready to play, from the media device 200 in response to the playcommand, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminal detects it andtransmits the audio data to the media device 200 in realtime through theRTC protocol in step 814. In step 814, when the media device 200receives the audio data from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit210 of the media device 200 detects it and decodes the audio data bymeans of an audio CODEC included in the control unit 210. The controlunit 210 stores the decoded audio data in the second buffer 280 and thenconverts the audio data stored in the type of digital signal into ananalog signal through the second D/A converter 290. The audio dataconverted into an analog signal are output through the output unit 260for an external device to the television 300, thereby being reproduced.

Simultaneously while outputting the audio data, the control unit 110 ofthe wireless terminal performs step 815 of transmitting picture data tothe media device 200. The control unit 110 of the wireless terminaltransmits the picture data to the media device 200, together withinformation relating to the picture. When the picture data are expressedas “Graduation picture.JPG” which is JPEG image data, the informationrelating to a picture as described below may be transmitted to the mediadevice 200.

M=Graduation Picture and V=JPEG.

When the control unit 210 of the media device receives the picture dataand the information relating to the picture from the wireless terminal100 in step 815, the control unit 210 detects it and decodes the picturedata by means of a video CODEC included in the control unit 210. Thecontrol unit 210 stores the decoded picture data in the first buffer 240and then converts the picture data stored in a digital format signalinto an analog signal through the first D/A converter 250. The picturedata converted into an analog signal are output through the output unit260 for an external device to the television 300 which is an externaldevice, thereby being reproduced. When the picture data are output anddisplayed through the television 300, together with the reproduction ofthe audio data, the control unit 210 of the media device performs step816, wherein the control unit 210 transmits a response message, whichindicates that the picture data are displayed through the externaldevice 300, to the wireless terminal 100. While the audio/picture dataare being reproduced through the television 300, the control unit 210performs step 817, in which the control unit 210 transmits informationrelating to a current connection state between the wireless terminal 100and the media device 200 to the wireless terminal 100 through the RTCprotocol at a predetermined period of time. While the audio/picture dataare being reproducing through the television 300, when the user of thewireless terminal 100 wireless terminal 100 selects another picture andselects the play function, steps 815 to 817 are repeated, therebydisplaying the selected picture, with the audio data reproduced, throughthe television 300.

Meanwhile, when the user of the wireless terminal 100, who is seeing andhearing the audio/picture data reproduced through the television 300 insteps 814 to 817, selects a pause function, the control unit 110 of thewireless terminal detects it and proceeds to step 820 shown in FIG. 8B,in which the control unit 110 transmits a pause command to the mediadevice 200.

Referring to FIG. 8B, when the media device 200 receives the pausecommand from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 of themedia device 200 detects it and performs a control operation to stop theoutput of audio data to the external device 300 and to pause the currentimage. During such a paused state, the control unit 210 discards all ofaudio/picture data received to the control unit 210. In step 821, whenthe wireless terminal 100 receives a response message from the mediadevice 200 in response to the pause command, the control unit 110 of thewireless terminal 100 detects it and stops transmitting theaudio/picture data. In such a paused state, when the user of thewireless terminal 100 selects a play function, the control unit 110detects it and transmits a play command to the media device 200 in step823. When the wireless terminal 100 receives a response message, whichindicates that the media device 200 is ready to play, from the mediadevice 200 in step 824 in response to the play command, the control unit110 of the wireless terminal 100 detects it and performs step 825 inwhich the control unit 110 transmits the audio data to the media device200 through the RTC protocol. In this case, data transmitted to themedia device 200 in step 825 are data of a frame number following thatof the data transmitted just before the pause command is transmitted.That is, in the case in which the pause command is transmitted afterdata of frame number ‘99’ are transmitted to the media device 200, theaudio data of frame number ‘100’ are transmitted when play resumes afterthe pause operation. While the audio is being reproduced, when picturedata selected by the user are transmitted, steps 826 and 827 areperformed to output the picture data to the television 300, therebydisplaying the picture on the television 300. A procedure performed bythe steps 826 and 827 is equal to the procedure performed by the steps815 and 816.

Meanwhile, when the user of the wireless terminal 100, who is seeing andhearing the audio/picture data reproduced through the television 300,selects a stop function, the control unit 110 of the wireless terminaldetects it and proceeds to step 830 shown in FIG. 8C, in which thecontrol unit 110 transmits a stop command to the media device 200.

Referring to FIG. 8C, when the media device 200 receives the stopcommand from the wireless terminal 100, the control unit 210 of themedia device 200 detects it and performs a control operation to stop theoutput of audio data to the external device 300 and to stop the currentimage. During such a stopped state, the control unit 210 discards all ofaudio/picture data received to the control unit 210. In step 831, whenthe wireless terminal 100 receives a response message from the mediadevice 200 in response to the stop command, the control unit 110 of thewireless terminal 100 detects it and waits for an input of the user. Inthis state, when the user selects a power-off function, the control unit110 of the wireless terminal detects it and performs step 832 oftransmitting a power-off command to the media device 200. When thecontrol unit 210 of the media device 200 receives the power-off command,the control unit 210 detects it, controls the power supply unit 220 foran external device to turn off the power of the television 300 which isan external device, and also turns off the power of the media device 200itself. In this case, the control unit 210 leaves a portion of the powerrelating to the power on/off function of the media device 200 itself.When the powers of the television 300 and the media device 200 areturned off, the media device 200 transmits a response message, whichindicates that the powers of the television 300 and the media device 200are turned off, to the wireless terminal 100 in step 833 in response tothe power-off command.

As described above, the media device according to this embodiment of thepresent invention enables a user to see and hear data stored in thewireless terminal through an external device and also enables the userto remotely control the external device by the wireless terminal.

While the present invention has been shown and described with referenceto certain embodiments thereof, it should be understood by those skilledin the art that various changes in form and details may be made thereinwithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as definedby the appended claims. Accordingly, the scope of the invention is notto be limited by the above embodiments but by the claims and theequivalents thereof.

What is claimed is:
 1. A wireless terminal comprising: a display unit; acommunication unit configured to establish communication with a mediadevice; and a control unit operatively coupled with the communicationunit, the control unit configured to: reproduce multimedia data,display, on the display unit, a notification indicating that the mediadevice is ready to play, transmit, via the communication unit, themultimedia data to the media device to output video image datacorresponding to the multimedia data, and display, on the display unit,a plurality of menu keys including at least one of a power on/off key, aplay key, a fast forward key, a rewind key, a pause key and a stop key.2. The wireless terminal of claim 1, wherein the notification indicatingthat the media device is ready to play further indicates that the mediadevice is connectable with the wireless terminal to receive themultimedia data.
 3. The wireless terminal of claim 2, wherein thenotification indicating that the media device is ready to play isdisplayed when the media device is in a power on state.
 4. The wirelessterminal of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of menu keys isselectable by a user's touch input.
 5. The wireless terminal of claim 1,wherein the control unit is further configured to control a power stateof the media device.
 6. The wireless terminal of claim 1, wherein thetransmitted multimedia data is displayed on an external display devicevia the media device.
 7. The wireless terminal of claim 6, wherein thecontrol unit is further configured to display the plurality of menu keyson the display unit while the external display device displays themultimedia data.
 8. The wireless terminal of claim 7, wherein thecontrol unit is further configured to control the multimedia datatransmitted to the external display device via the media device usingthe plurality of menu keys.
 9. A method for operating a wirelessterminal, the method comprising: establishing communication with a mediadevice; reproducing multimedia data; displaying a notificationindicating that the media device is ready to play; transmitting themultimedia data to the media device to output video image datacorresponding to the multimedia data; and displaying a plurality of menukeys including at least one of a power on/off key, a play key, a fastforward key, a rewind key, a pause key and a stop key.
 10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein the notification indicating that the media device isready to play further indicates that the media device is connectablewith the wireless terminal to receive the multimedia data.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, wherein the notification indicating that the mediadevice is ready to play is displayed when the media device is in a poweron state.
 12. The method of claim 9, further comprising receiving aselection of one of the plurality of menu keys by a user's touch input.13. The method of claim 9, further comprising controlling a power stateof the media device.
 14. The method of claim 9, wherein the transmittedmultimedia data is displayed on an external display device via the mediadevice.
 15. The method of claim 14, wherein the plurality of menu keysare displayed on the display unit while the external display devicedisplays the multimedia data.
 16. The wireless terminal of claim 15,wherein the multimedia data transmitted to the external display devicevia the media device is controlled using the plurality of menu keys.